Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kulim: Cadangan Kedah akan dikaji

GEORGE TOWN: Kerajaan akan mengkaji cadangan negeri Kedah untuk membina lapangan terbang antarabangsa baharu di Kulim, kata Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Beliau berkata setakat ini, pihaknya belum menerima kertas cadangan berhubung perkara itu. "Saya belum ada laporan terperinci, saya kena tengok dulu semua butiran baru saya boleh membuat komen lanjut.

"Masih terlalu awal untuk saya komen pasal lapangan terbang dan pastinya mereka akan hantar kertas cadangan terperinci dan saya akan menelitinya," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Mesyuarat Tahunan MCA Bahagian Bukit Bendera di sini, Ahad.

Turut hadir Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perhubungan MCA Pulau Pinang Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat.

Liow berkata demikian ketika mengulas pengumuman Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir bahawa negeri itu bakal memiliki lapangan terbang antarabangsa baharu di tanah seluas 600 hektar yang akan merancakkan lagi pertumbuhan ekonomi di utara tanah air.

Kedah kini memiliki dua lapangan terbang iaitu Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Langkawi.

Liow turut mengulas permintaan kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang yang mahukan landasan kedua untuk menaik taraf Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang dengan berkata pihaknya akan meneliti perkara itu.

"Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang di Bayan Lepas sebuah lapangan terbang yang besar, bukan lapangan terbang kecil, dan ia juga sebuah lapangan terbang yang dapat meningkatkan ekonomi di negeri ini," katanya.

Ketua Menteri Lim Guan Eng sebelum ini memaklumkan Pulau Pinang memerlukan landasan kedua memandangkan jumlah penumpang di lapangan terbang itu meningkat, selain peningkatan pengangkutan kargo udara berikutan pelaburan langsung asing.

Sumber: mStar Online | 29 Jun 2014

Kerajaan tidak tolak mentah-mentah cadangan pembinaan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kulim - Mustapa

ARAU: Kerajaan tidak menolak mentah-mentah sebarang cadangan, termasuk pembinaan lapangan terbang baharu di Kulim, yang dicadangkan oleh Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata lapangan terbang menjadi pemangkin pembangunan dan kemajuan sesuatu kawasan dan sebab itu cadangan Mukhriz diberi perhatian serius.

Beliau berkata lebih banyak kargo kini dihantar atau dieksport menggunakan kapal terbang berbanding kapal laut, dan lapangan terbang juga melengkapkan ekosistem untuk menarik pelaburan asing.

"Kerajaan tidak kata "ya" atau "tidak" kepada idea ini, namun kita perlu mengkajinya secara mendalam dan teliti," kata Mustapa kepada pemberita selepas menemui penuntut Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) di kampus induk UniMAP di Pauh Putra di sini Khamis.

Turut hadir Naib Canselor UniMAP Datuk Prof Dr Kamarudin Hussin dan pegawai kanan universiti. Mustapa berkata Mukhriz menerangkan kepadanya mengenai visi dan rasional pembinaan lapangan terbang ketiga di Kedah itu pada taklimat ringkas semasa mereka bertemu di Alor Setar pagi ini.

"Antara perkara yang dipertimbang ialah sejauh mana lapangan terbang di Kulim ini memberi tempias kepada pembangunan di Selatan Kedah dan Perak selain kesan terhadap Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

"Apabila lapangan terbang Subang tidak dapat tampung keperluan, kita bina KLIA dan klia2. Sekarang Subang dah pulih (sibuk) kembali selepas agak merosot dengan adanya KLIA. Inilah contohnya," katanya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Mustapa berkata kementerian berkenaan bersama Kementerian Kewangan membuat kajian semula untuk memperkenal insentif dalam bentuk berlainan daripada yang ditawarkan oleh lima Koridor Ekonomi Wilayah kepada pelabur.

Kajian ini penting kerana insentif yang diberi oleh kerajaan kepada pelabur yang mendirikan kilang di pinggir atau luar bandar ditarik balik apabila Koridor Ekonomi Wilayah dibentuk supaya insentif itu tidak bertindih, katanya.

Menurut Mustapa langkah itu diambil bagi mengimbangi pembangunan di bandar dan luar bandar, selain merupakan kaedah untuk memberi insentif lebih lumayan untuk membawa pelaburan baharu ke Koridor-koridor ekonomi tersebut bagi mengurangkan penghijrahan.

Mengenai pelantikan Datuk Lee Chee Leong sebagai timbalannya, seperti yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak semalam, Mustapa berkata beliau sangat memerlukan timbalan untuk membantunya menarik lebih banyak pelaburan asing yang akan mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan.

"Saya ucap tahniah kepada Naib Presiden MCA itu...banyak kerja menanti. Walaupun mewakili MCA, dia sebenarnya berkhidmat untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia," kata Mustapa.

Sumber: Bernama | 26 Jun 2014

Bumi Aviation dan Neptune Air meterai MoU dalam industri penerbangan Wilayah Utara

ALOR SETAR: Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd dan Neptune Air Sdn Bhd Khamis menandatangani perjanjian persefahaman (MoU) dalam industri penerbangan komersil di wilayah utara.

Pengerusi Eksekutif Bumi Aviation, Datuk Tunku Johanez Tunku Annuar berkata, perjanjian itu bertujuan untuk meneroka perniagaan bersama Neptune Air yang mempunyai pengalaman dalam industri berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim (LTSAH) dikenal pasti sebagai lokasi strategik untuk menyediakan penerbangan dari Alor Setar ke destinasi seperti Pulau Langkawi, Kota Bharu dan selatan Thailand.

"Sebelum ini tidak ada penerbangan dari Alor Setar ke destinasi seperti Pulau Langkawi dan selatan Thailand dan kita wujudkan penerbangan ini untuk memudahkan orang ramai.

"Penerbangan pertama dari LTSAH ke Pulau Langkawi dijangka bermula awal tahun depan. Kita juga akan mengembangkan penerbangan ke Selatan Thailand, iaitu Krabi, Phuket dan Koh Samui," katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis menandatangani MoU itu, di sini hari ini.

Tunku Johanez berkata, pihaknya berhasrat mengembangkan penerbangan itu ke destinasi domestik lain seperti Johor dan Kuala Lumpur dengan melihat permintaan daripada masyarakat.

Menurutnya, Neptune adalah syarikat yang mengendalikan penyelenggaraan pesawat dan mampu melakukannya dengan baik demi keselamatan penumpang.

"Kita juga sedang merancang untuk menceburi industri penerbangan kargo dalam tempoh tiga tahun lagi," katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi Neptune Air, Mohd Yunos Ishak berkata buat permulaan pihaknya menggunakan pesawat jenis ATR 42-300 yang boleh membawa 42 penumpang dari Alor Setar ke Pulau Langkawi.

Beliau berkata, sebuah daripada pesawat itu adalah berkelas eksklusif dan pihaknya juga menawarkan tambang murah kepada pelanggan.

Ditanya mengenai sasaran keuntungan, Mohd Yunos berkata, pihaknya mengambil tempoh antara tiga hingga tujuh tahun untuk memperoleh keuntungan dan tidak mengulas jumlah yang disasarkan.

Majlis menandatangani MoU itu disempurnakan Tunku Johanez dan Mohd Yunos.

Sumber: Bernama | 26 Jun 2014

Projek Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kulim menelan kos RM1.6 bilion

KUALA LUMPUR: Pembangunan lapangan terbang antarabangsa yang dicadangkan dibina di kawasan ladang getah Kulim, Kedah dijangka menelan perbelanjaan sebanyak RM1.6 bilion.

Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr. Mahathir (gambar) berkata, kos tersebut meliputi pengambilalihan tanah, pembangunan infrastruktur asas dan dua landasan.

Katanya, pembinaan bagi peringkat awal membabitkan kawasan seluas 600 hektar, namun kawasan tersebut boleh diperluaskan sehingga 6,000 hektar jika diperlukan.

"Kita boleh bina dua, tiga ataupun empat landasan jika diperlukan. Saya yakin ia akan menjadi lapangan terbang serantau, bukan sahaja untuk Kedah malah untuk Selatan Thailand," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui pada pelancaran pembukaan pejabat Bina Darulaman Bhd. (BDB) di sini hari ini. Yang turut hadir, Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan BDB, Datuk Izham Yusoff.

Mengulas sama ada Kedah mahu bersaing dengan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang, Mukhriz berkata, adalah lebih murah untuk membina lapangan terbang di tanah besar yang lebih luas berbanding membina landasan di atas laut.

Katanya, kajian pihaknya mendapati, lapangan terbang di Pulau Pinang akan mencapai kapasiti maksimum dalam masa dua tahun lagi dan peningkatan penumpang ke negeri itu menyebabkan penerbangan kargo menurun sebanyak 10 peratus sejak tiga tahun lalu.

"Di sinilah keperluan kami kerana zon utara menarik banyak pelaburan dan banyak syarikat memerlukan perkhidmatan kargo.

"Beberapa syarikat dari Kedah dan Pulau Pinang memberitahu bahawa mereka terpaksa membawa barangan dengan trak ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) untuk penerbangan antarabangsa. Jadi, ini tidak baik untuk pelaburan antarabangsa kita," katanya.

Sementara itu, Izham berkata, pembukaan pejabat BDB di sini adalah untuk meningkatkan kesedaran tentang kewujudan dan keupayaan Kumpulan BDB serta merintis peluang perniagaan di luar Kedah.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia | Ekonomi | 23 Jun 2014 | Terbitan 24 Jun 2014

MAS weighing all options for turnaround

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is considering all options for radical changes to turn around the troubled airline but chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya has denied talks with foreign airlines.

Ahmad Jauhari also refused to rule out drastic measures such as filing for bankruptcy or selling off some of its divisions.

"We're exploring all options and narrowing down to a select few. Once we finalised that obviously we will go back to the shareholders, inform them and obviously we will inform the rest of the world," he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting (AGM) here, today.

Asked whether the troubled airline would implement the proposed restructuring exercise within six to 12 months, Ahmad Jauhari said although the move was time critical, he did not want to put a timeline to it.

Meanwhile, chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof said MAS was not in the stage to file for bankruptcy.

"You will consider bankruptcy if you are insolvent. We are not. You will consider bankruptcy if you cannot make the obligations, we are not in that stage," he said, adding that the group had RM3.8 billion cash flow.

MAS also should exploit and leverage its good assets such as MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capability to have a significant impact on recovery rather than trying to earn cash, Md Nor added.

Earlier, Ahmad Jauhari said MAS had four real and tangible world-class assets -- products, services, engineering capabilities and safety track records -- that it could unlock and unleash their full value.

He said the only way to unleash the true value of all the assets was to have real set of radical change in the way the airline is operated and putting in sets of practices and systems that allow it to be competitive.

"While we finalise this plan, our focus remain to deliver world-class services and evolving the services," he said.

Going forward, MAS would continue with its fleet renewal programme and making sure it has the most efficient aircraft to fly.

"We are aggressively retiring old aircraft and make sure we fly to routes that make contribution to the bottom line," he added.

On shareholders call for the directors to resign, Ahmad Jauhari said: "The fact that the reappointment of directors resolution was passed by the shareholders, it's contradicting.

"You've got to read that, there are one or two very angry remarks but when we put it to vote, they passed the resolution".

During the five-hour AGM, MAS's shareholders approved all resolutions including the directors' fees, but all nine non-executive directors decided to return the total fees of RM396,000.

Sumber: Bernama | 25 Jun 2014

Lapangan Terbang Melaka sasar 4 penerbangan harian

MELAKA: Melaka menyasarkan empat penerbangan harian bagi lapangan terbang antarabangsa negeri di Batu Berendam di sini apabila semua perbincangan dan urus niaga yang sedang dijalankan dengan pihak-pihak berkaitan, termasuk syarikat penerbangan, selesai kira-kira lapan bulan dari sekarang, kata Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
 
Beliau berkata, Lapangan Terbang Melaka akan memberikan perkhidmatan kepada pesawat komersil seperti Boeing 737-400, dan apabila digunakan sepenuhnya, akan dapat mengendalikan hingga 12 penerbangan sehari dari pukul 8.00 pagi hingga 12.00 tengah malam.
 
"Sekarang ini ada penerbangan persendirian di lapangan terbang itu tetapi untuk mendapatkan satu atau dua penerbangan komersil sehari benar-benar sukar, jadi sekarang kita sedang berbincang dan membuat tawaran untuk mendapatkan lebih banyak penerbangan komersial di situ," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Idris berkata, permintaan bagi penerbangan di Melaka sememangnya ada kerana orang, terutamanya pelancong meminta penerbangan ke tempat-tempat seperti Pulau Pinang dan Kota Bharu, tetapi penerbangan ke Medan, Indonesia merupakan laluan yang paling banyak diminta.
 
Beliau berkata, kerajaan negeri telah berbincang dengan beberapa syarikat penerbangan seperti AirAsia, Firefly, Sriwijaya Air dan Malindo Air, dan setakat ini perbincangan itu bergerak lancar ke arah yang betul.
 
"Secara realistiknya, ini merupakan perbincangan bertolak ansur, kita memahami masalah syarikat penerbangan untuk beroperasi di sini seperti cukai lapangan terbang, tetapi kita sedia berbincang hingga ke tahap kita (sanggup) membayar sebahagian daripada cukai itu atau memberi jaminan 100 penumpang bagi setiap penerbangan.
 
"Apa yang perlu kita lakukan sekarang ialah duduk berbincang dengan semua pihak dan mencari jalan untuk memenuhi permintaan penerbangan ini...Kita benar-benar percaya jika dilakukan dengan betul, ini akan meningkatkan pelancongan di negeri ini," kata beliau. 

Sumber: Bernama | 24 Jun 2014

MAHB rangka pelan strategik naik taraf lapangan terbang seluruh negara 2015 - 2020

SEPANG: Malaysian Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) sedang merangka rancangan strategik baharu bagi tempoh 2015 hingga 2020 yang merangkumi kerja menaik taraf lapangan terbang di seluruh negara.

Pengarah Urusannya, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali berkata, MAHB sedang menjalankan kajian perniagaan dan tidak akan membuat sebarang pengumuman baharu tahun ini.

"Kami sedang menambah baik perkhidmatan berdasarkan kaji selidik pola trafik pengguna," katanya kepada pemberita selepas pelancaran rasmi KLIA2 oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, di sini, Selasa.

Badlisham berkata, pada masa akan datang, tumpuan MAHB adalah juga terhadap KLIA2, terutama dari perspektif kendalian dan keselamatan.

"KLIA2 adalah suatu 'rahmat' berbanding LCCT. Warga Malaysia harus berbangga dengannya. Tetapi sebagai sebuah lapangan terbang baharu, tentunya ada perkara yang masih boleh dibaiki seperti papan tanda," katanya.

Sebelum itu, dalam ucapannya, Najib berkata, sejumlah RM300 juta telah diperuntukkan bagi kerja-kerja menaiktarafkan lapangan terbang di seluruh negara.

"Kerajaan juga akan bekerjasama dengan MAHB untuk membangunkan selanjutnya kesemua 39 lapangan terbang di negara ini," kata beliau.

Mengenai isu sistem daftar masuk dengan AirAsia, Badlisham berkata: "Semuanya sudah sedia untuk dibincangkan."

Sementara itu, menurut MAHB, KLIA2 dibiayai secara persendirian melalui Program Sukuk Senior lima tranche, yang mengalami lebihan langganan sebanyak 3.4 kali dan menarik pelbagai kumpulan pelabur.

"Kos pembinaan setiap penumpang adalah sebanyak RM89, paling rendah berbanding terminal lapangan terbang antarabangsa lain yang setara dengannya," katanya.

Kos purata pembinaan setiap penumpang di terminal-terminal yang kapasitinya 16 hingga 45 juta penumpang setahun di seluruh dunia adalah kira-kira RM1,229.

Sumber: mStar Online | 24 Jun 2014

Malindo Air umum laluan baharu Johor Bahru - Pulau Pinang dan Subang - Kuantan

MULAI 23 Julai ini Malindo Air akan memulakan perkhidmatan hariannya dari Johor Bahru ke Pulau Pinang dan perkhidmatan komersil lima kali seminggu dari Subang ke Kuantan.

    

Dalam satu kenyataan hari ini, syarikat penerbangan hibrid itu berkata, perkhidmatan Johor Bahru - Pulau Pinang - Johor Bahru akan berlepas dan tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Senai di Johor Bahru dan Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang setiap hari.

    

Sementara itu, perkhidmatan Subang - Kuantan - Subang akan terbang ke dan dari Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Subang dan Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ahmad Shah, Kuantan setiap Isnin, Rabu, Khamis, Jumaat dan Ahad, katanya.

    

Malindo Air baru-baru ini menerima dua lagi pesawat ATR72-600 yang akan digunakan untuk perkhidmatan baharu terbabit.

    

"Kami teruja untuk menambah perkhidmatan baharu itu kerana ia memang menjadi hasrat kami untuk menghubungkan bandar raya utama di Malaysia dengan penerbangan terus yang bukan sahaja berpatutan tetapi mudah.

    

"Di samping itu, adalah amat sesuai untuk melancarkan perkhidmatan baharu terbabit sebelum sambutan raya bermula kerana ia memberi peluang kepada anggota keluarga pulang ke kampung halaman masing-masing," kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Chandran Rama Muthy.

    

Tambang sehala termasuk semua bermula pada RM79 untuk perkhidmatan Subang - Kuantan dan RM99 untuk laluan Pulau Pinang - Johor Baharu.

Sumber: Bernama | 23 Jun 2014

Xpress Air confident of response ror Pontianak - Johor Bahru route

PONTIANAK (Indonesia): Indonesian airline Xpress Air, is confident its newly launched Pontianak - Johor Bahru route will receive encouraging response within the first six months of operations.

Business Development Manager Fanny Andri Rifai said there were a number of key factors that can strengthen the flight launched on June 14, particularly the tourism sector of both countries.

"Johor has a number of attractions for Indonesians to partake of, including medical treatment at reasonable rates.

"The city also serves as a gateway for those planning to visit Singapore or other nearby places as Malacca and Kuala Lumpur," he added.

Fanny Andri told this to reporters from Johor who were part of a Xpress Air delegation, also comprising the Johor Tourism Department and agents of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Johor to Kota Pontianak, recently.

He said apart from tourism, the high demand for direct flights by Indonesians working and studying in Peninsular Malaysia or Singapore, was another factor for Xpress Air's optimism in introducing the flight.

"The absence of a direct flight from Pontianak-Singapore following the termination of flights from Johor Bahru to a number of Indonesian cities this year, will also contribute to demand on the newly launched route.

Fanny Andri said Xpress Air is offering three weekly flights with a RM240 one-way fare.

Source: Bernama | 22 Jun 2014

Firefly sasar pertumbuhan trafik 20 peratus tahun ini walaupun berlaku insiden MH370

PETALING JAYA: Cabang penerangan jarak dekat Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, mengunjurkan jumlah trafik yang lebih tinggi berbanding tahun lepas walaupun berlaku insiden MH370.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Firefly Ignatius Ong berkata syarikat penerbangan itu tidak banyak terjejas ekoran insiden MH370, dan dalam kedudukan untuk mencatat pertumbuhan trafik penumpang sebanyak 20 peratus tahun ini daripada dua juta penumpang yang direkodkan pada 2013.

Beliau berkata trafik Firefly dijangkakannya sudah mencecah satu juta dalam tempoh enam bulan pertama tahun ini.

Beliau bercakap kepada pemberita selepas pelancaran jenama tudung, Fareeda, dalam pesawat ATR 72-600 Firefly Jumaat. Usaha sama setahun itu berlangsung di Subang Skypark di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata Firefly akan memberi tumpuan ke atas laluan yang tidak mendapat kemudahan itu dengan rancangan memperkenal dua laluan baharu pada September, iaitu Pulau Pinang - Krabi dan Johor Bahru - Ipoh.

Firefly, katanya akan menjadi satu-satu syarikat penerbangan beroperasi dari Pulau Pinang ke Krabi, Thailand.

Bagi laluan Johor Bahru - Ipoh, beliau berkata banyak permintaan daripada penduduk Singapura untuk ke Ipoh, yang belum dapat dipenuhi syarikat penerbangan itu akibat kesesakan di Lapangan Terbang Changi Singapura.

"Oleh itu kami sedang berusaha menggunakan lapangan terbang Senai dan menjadikannya satu lagi hab untuk menghubungkan penduduk Singapura ke Ipoh bersama kami," katanya dan menambah tiket Johor Bahru - Ipoh sudah mula dijual.

Bagi menyokong pertumbuhan itu, katanya syarikat penerbangan itu akan menerima 18 pesawat Airbus baharu dalam tempoh dua tahun, dengan kos RM3 bilion.

Pesawat paling baharu dijangka tiba minggu depan, katanya. Firefly memiliki 14 pesawat dalam kumpulannya.

Sumber: Bernama | 20 Jun 2014

No probability of closing down MAS for now, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there is no probability of the government closing down Malaysian Airlines for now.

Najib said although MAS was incurring losses, the direction of the airline company was yet to be determined and the financial implication to the government would depend on the outcome of the due diligence being undertaken by the main shareholder, Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

"The government has discussed MAS' dismal financial performance and has asked that the due diligence be carried out soon to identify the reasons behind the losses and the best options to solve them.

"Khazanah, as the biggest shareholder of MAS, has undertaken studies to evaluate the airline company's past performances and its current status.

"The findings of the study will be presented to the Khazanah board as soon as it is finalised in order to decide on the future direction of the company," Najib said in a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) in Parliament, Thursday.

Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, asked Najib whether the suggestion to close down MAS was part of a plan to revive the national carrier which incurred losses amounting to RM4.1 billion since three years ago.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, was also asked to give a breakdown of the losses recorded during the duration, the negative impact on MAS employees and shareholders and the losses incurred by the government in terms of grant and financial guarantees.

The prime minister said MAS recorded a net loss of RM2.52 billion in 2011 following the slump in the avaition sector especially for cargo service.

Besides, operating cost especially that of fuel had spiralled while non-fuel cost climbed on capacity-related costs, marketing, maintenance and provisions for phased out aircraft.

Yet, Najib said with the implementation of strategic measures under its comprehensive business plan, MAS succeeded in turning around its financial performance and recorded a net profit of RM431 million in 2012 against RM2.52 billion in 2011.

For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2013, Najib said the flag carrier recorded a 10 per cent growth in sales to RM15.1 billion versus RM13.8 billion registered in 2012 due to an increase in capacity.

"However, MAS still incurred an after-tax loss of RM1.174 billion.

"This loss was due to higher fuel cost and a weaker ringgit against the US dollar (foreign exchange losses).

In the first quarter of 2014, Najib said MAS' net losses widened to RM443 million against net losses of RM279 million recorded in the previous corresponding period.

The losses were due to pressure on yields, under-performing non-core activities and negative sentiment on the airline overshadowed commendable air traffic growth and cost savings .

Source: Bernama | 19 Jun 2014

MAS unions under fire from veteran MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Employees' unions in Malaysia Airlines (MAS) have come under fire from one of the country's longest-serving Members of Parliament for obstructing efforts to turn around MAS with their "unreasonable" demands and threats.

Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, the eight-term MP for Kepong, said the "MAS saga" had been going on for far too long for well over 40 years with the unions getting stronger to the detriment of the ailing national carrier itself.

"As the unions have been long established, they have been making incredible demands. If we have unions that don't understand the airline industry situations today, MAS cannot survive. If they make too many demands, how can MAS survive?," asked Dr Tan, who is Deputy Chairman of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Among other things, the MAS Employees Union of Peninsular Malaysia (MASEU), the biggest of several unions in MAS, recently threatened to strike if its demands to remove key management executives of the airline and for the government to intervene in the airline were not met.

MASEU is unhappy with the management's attempt to restructure MAS that include the rumoured sale of its engineering division and other non-core businesses.

In 2011 and 2012, MAS's unions also protested against a merger between the airline and AirAsia, a deal which was welcomed by many quarters as a fresh start for MAS, including by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Bowing to union pressure, in May 2012, the two airlines unwound the merger. Dr Tan said whatever demands made by the unions should take into account the airline's interests and must commensurate with its financial performance, productivity and returns.

"If the demands and threats undermine MAS, and if they result in the collapse of productivity, how could MAS perform? So I would say they are illogical and destructive to everyone, not only to MAS but the image of Malaysia as well.

"And this has been going on for too long and I think enough is enough," he said. Elaborating on the unions' threat to go on strike if the key management was not changed, Dr Tan said both the management and unions ought to strike an amicable solution in the interest of both sides and for national interests.

He said the unions' demands should take into account parallel demands made by unions in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea and Britain.

"We need to compare these demands with other unions in the country and worldwide, whether they are reasonable or not. What would the unions gain if they got what they wanted only to have MAS go under?" asked Dr Tan.

MAS reported a loss of RM1.17 billion last year and was in the red to the tune of RM443 million for the first quarter (Q1) of 2014, far deeper than the RM279 million loss in Q1 of 2013.

Khazanah Nasional, the majority shareholder of MAS, has also announced that it would require six to 12 months for a restructuring plan for the airline and all options were being considered.

Dr Tan is also against any further bail-out for MAS, saying such a move has never been the way forward for any company.

The culture in MAS of depending on government subsidy should stop, given the fact that Khazanal Nasional had so far injected RM5 billion of taxpayers' money with no signs of the airline turning around, he said.

"And everytime we change the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), we don't see any improvements to the extent that MAS at one point had debts of RM8 billion. If we continue this kind of government subsidy and assistance, we will never ever get a viable national airline," he added.

Dr Tan also said that the search for a future MAS CEO must take into account the best person for the job without looking at colour or creed, and it has been proven by other airlines which had turned around successfully while MAS continued to fail.

Source: Bernama | 15 June 2014

MAS retires Boeing 737-400 from its fleet

MAS' last Boeing 737-400 flight on the KLIA tarmac.

SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) retired the Boeing 737-400 passenger aircraft from its fleet Saturday night, 22 years after it entered the carrier's service in 1992.

The last 737-400 series flight touched down in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 9.31pm Saturday, after taking off from the Bayan Lepas airport in Penang at 8.41pm.

It carried 85 passengers and was served by 10 cockpit and cabin crew. Capt Wan Muzainal Wan Mahazir, 42, who piloted the aircraft, said he and his crew had fond memories of the 737-400.

"It has been a good, memorable 22-odd years that the 400 series has been servicing MAS. "(We) still have vivid, fond memories from when we started our early days training on the 400 series, 20 years ago," he told reporters here.

He added that the 400 series would be replaced by the 737-800 series, of which there are 53 planes currently in service.

MAS chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said the 737-400 had an exemplary safety record. "It's like the retiring of an old friend," he said, adding that MAS would be banking on the 800 series to ply the routes previously serviced by the 400 series.

Ahmad said the 800 series saves 15% to 20% more fuel compared to the 400 series, and could fly for five hours one-way.

Ahmad said MAS expected to see more deliveries of the 800 series this year and the next, with a total of 64 of the aircraft by year-end 2015. MAS had eight of the 737-400 in service before they retired it. 

The Boeing 737-400 entered MAS' service in May 1992, and at one point ran 54 of the aircraft, making the company the largest operator of the model outside the United States.

Commenting on the 100-day anniversary of the MH370 incident Sunday, Ahmad said the search was still underway and that efforts were ongoing, by all parties involved.

Source: The Star Online | 14 June 2014

Khazanah to announce plan for Malaysia Airlines in 6 to 12 months

KUALA LUMPUR: Khazanah Nasional Bhd will announce a plan for Malaysia Airlines Bhd in six to 12 months to hopefully be able to steer the national carrier out of its problems.

Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar had on Tuesday that three things needs to be in place.

“One, we must make sure internally MAS as a company needs to up its productivity. Secondly, MAS as a national carrier needs to be clear about what kind of national carrier we want considering all circumstances including competitiveness. And the third is that the leadership to do this is very challenging," he said.

Speaking to reporters at the Invest Malaysia 2014, Azman said it was very challenging for the MAS leadership and “we appreciate that CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahaya and his team is working very hard”.

“Over the immediate term I believe there is enough headroom in terms of finances but over the medium to longer term this thing needs to be solved in a sustainable manner," he added.

Khazanah, which is undertaking a study that included consulting its stakeholders, will present its decision to the government over the immediate term.

Source: The Star Online | 10 June 2014

MAS tamatkan penggunaan pesawat Boeing 737-400

Selamat tinggal: Pesawat terakhir jenis B737-400 milik MAS yang telah ditamatkan perkhidmatan berkuat kuasa 15 Jun 2014.

SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) menamatkan penggunaan pesawat Boeing 737-400 malam ini untuk memberi laluan kepada pesawat baharu Boeing 737-800 untuk kegunaan syarikat penerbangan negara.

Ketibaan pesawat penerbangan B737-400 dari Pulau Pinang di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur pada 9.31 malam, menandakan berakhirnya perkhidmatan pesawat itu selepas melakukan penerbangan selama 22 tahun.

Ketibaan 99 penumpang dan lapan anak kapal disambut oleh Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan MAS Ahmad Jauhari Yahaya. 

Sejak Mei 1992, MAS mengendalikan 54 pesawat B737-400, menjadikan ia pengendali terbesar siri fleet B737-400 di luar Amerika Syarikat pada suatu masa. 

Bercakap kepada pemberita, Ahmad Jauhari berkata MAS telah menggantikan B737-400 dengan pesawat baharu B737-800 sejak tiga tahun lepas.

"Kita mempunyai 56 pesawat B737-800 yang digunakan sekarang dan dijangka mempunyai 64 pesawat untuk siri ini menjelang akhir tahun depan," katanya. 

Beliau berkata pesawat siri baharu itu mempunyai sayap lawi membolehkan penggunaan bahan api secara lebih cekap dan B737-800 juga akan digunakan untuk laluan jarak sederhana seperti Perth dan New Delhi kerana pesawat itu boleh terbang selama lima jam.

Sumber: mStar Online | 15 Jun 2014

5 destinasi baharu Neptune Air dari LTSAH termasuk Kota Bharu

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim (LTSAH), Alor Setar, Kedah. Foto ihsan: Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

ALOR SETAR: Bumi Aviaton Sdn. Bhd. bersama Neptune Air Sdn. Bhd. bakal melaksanakan penerbangan baharu ke lima destinasi terpilih terus dari Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim (LTSAH) di sini yang dijangka beroperasi September ini.

Pengarah Komersial Neptune Air Sdn. Bhd., Muhamad Abdul Jalil berkata, pada peringkat permulaan sebanyak dua pesawat penumpang jenis ATR 42-300 yang akan disediakan ke Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Acheh, Medan dan Phuket.

Menurutnya, pesawat penumpang yang digunakan itu mampu memuatkan sehingga 48 penumpang dalam tempoh satu masa.

"Dari segi tambang, kita akan melakukan kajian terlebih dahulu untuk melihat kesesuaiannya namun kadar yang dikenakan nanti adalah pada kadar yang kompetitif.

"Ini merupakan satu inisiatif yang baik untuk kita jadikan Alor Setar sebagai hab kepada penumpang yang hendak ke Langkawi terutamanya," katanya kepada pemberita dalam sidang akhbar di sini hari ini.

Muhammad berkata, Neptune Air menyasarkan jumlah penumpang akan memenuhi pesawat setiap kali penerbangan dan penambahan jumlah pesawat kepada 10 buah dalam tempoh dua tahun.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Urusan Bumi Aviaton Sdn. Bhd., Abdul Wahab Mat Isa memberitahu, LTSAH mempunyai kedudukan geografi strategik yang mampu mengendalikan penerbangan antarabangsa.

"Tahun lalu sudah ada penerba­ngan terus ke Jeddah dari LTSAH, jadi kita akan buat persediaan untuk penerbangan baharu bagi jarak dekat.

"Kita berharap langkah ini dapat membantu dalam meningkatkan ekonomi selain memberi impak besar kepada negeri," katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia | Bisnes | 12 Jun 2014 | Terbitan 13 Jun 2014

New low-cost airline plan in Malaysia

Abdul Wahab (centre), Bumi Aviation executive director Azrul Hisham Datuk Abd Wahab (right) and Muhammad showing the planned carrier’ s routes.

ALOR SETAR: Two firms are planning to start a new airline with Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas here as its hub.

Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd and Neptune Air Sdn Bhd are behind the new low-cost carrier, which has yet to be named, and plan to start with return flights to Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Medan, Acheh and Phuket.

Bumi Aviation managing director Abdul Wahab Mat Isa claimed that the new airline would be operational by September.

“We chose Alor Setar as we felt it is geographically strategic for domestic and international flights to Thailand and Indonesia. Our airline and our destinations can help boost the state’s economy,” he said, adding that Bumi Aviation was set up early this year.

When pressed for information on frequency of flights and fares at the press conference at the airport yesterday, he said more would be revealed when the memorandum of understanding for the enterprise was inked at the end of this month.

“We plan to purchase new planes for the new airline company,” Neptune Air director Muhammad Abdul Jalil said.

“We plan to buy two planes first, either the ATR 42-300 or ATR 42-500 (turbo prop aircraft), at a cost of about RM10mil, including operations. We will need at least 10 aircraft in two years’ time to optimise operations.”

Muhammad said Neptune Air was set up in 2006 and had nine aircraft, providing services such as dry and wet lease, cargo and passenger charter flights and air cargo retail sales for selected schedule routes.

Malaysian Airlines, Firefly and Air Asia provide domestic flights from the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport and there was a direct flight to Medina and Jeddah for Haj pilgrims last year.

Source: The Star Online | 13 June 2014

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim bakal jadi hab penerbangan Wilayah Utara

Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim (LTSAH) di Alor Setar, Kedah Darul Aman. 

ALOR SETAR: Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim (LTSAH) di Kepala Batas dekat sini bakal menjadi hab penerbangan bagi wilayah utara apabila penerbangan terus ke Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Acheh, Medan dan Phuket bermula September ini.

Pengarah Urusan Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd, Abdul Wahab Mat Isa berkata dari segi kedudukan geografi, LTSAH berada di lokasi yang sangat strategik kerana selain berhampiran dengan negara jiran LTSAH memiliki kemudahan yang mampu mengendalikan penerbangan antarabangsa.

"Sekarang pun sudah ada penerbangan terus ke Jeddah di LTSAH, jadi kita akan adakan penerbangan baharu yang akan penuhi penerbangan jarak dekat yang dijangka dapat beroperasi dalam tempoh tiga bulan lagi.

"Setakat ini belum ada syarikat yang menyediakan perkhidmatan penerbangan terus ke Medan, Acheh, Langkawi, Phuket dan Kota Bharu dari Alor Setar," katanya pemberita selepas menghadiri Mesyuarat Bersama Prapelancaran Penerbangan dari Alor Setar ke Langkawi/Kota Bharu/Acheh/Medan dan Phuket oleh Neptune Air dan Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd di LTSAH, di sini Khamis.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Neptune Air, Muhammad Abdul Jalil berkata untuk permulaan dua pesawat akan diguna dan jumlah akan ditambah kepada tujuh bagi memenuhi permintaan.

"Kita melihat trend perkhidmatan penerbangan ini, apabila lebih luas jalur penerbangan yang ditawarkan permintaan akan bertambah," katanya.

Sumber: Bernama | 12 Jun 2014

Kedah proposes new international airport to be built in Kulim

ALOR SETAR: Kedah will have a new international airport that will boost the economic growth in the northern states if the proposal for the project is approved by the federal government.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir said the proposal for the construction of the new airport on a 600-hectare site in Kulim had been submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently.

"The state government sees the increase in the demand for air transport and that the facilities at the airports in Penang are getting more and more limited. In future, even cargo and passenger requirements will increase.

"Kedah government is offering the federal government a piece of land big enough to be used as airport runways for cargo and passenger operations," he told reporters after opening the Career and Sports Enhancement Programme for Administrative Officers of Kedah, Johor, Kelantan and Terengganu here today.

He said the land identified for the project was also very strategic as it was located near the Kulim High Technology Park.

Meanwhile, Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd managing director Abdul Wahab Mat Isa said the company, with cooperation from Neptune Air, will introduce direct flights to Langkawi, Kota Bharu, Acheh, Medan and Phuket from the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport (LTSAH) in Kepala Batas this September, which would turn the airport into the aviation hub for the northern region.

"Right now, we already have direct flight to Jeddah from LTSAH. So, we will set up a new airline to cater for short distance flight (one-hour flight). It is expected to be operational in the next three months.

"So far, no airline is offering direct flight to Medan, Acheh, Langkawi, Phuket and Kota Bharu from Alor Setar," he told reporters after attending the pre-launch meeting for the direct flights from Alor Setar to Langkawi/Kota Bharu/Acheh/Medan and Phuket by Neptune Air and Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd at the airport today.

Although the ticket price had yet to be ascertained, Abdul Wahab said it would be very competitive.

Meanwhile, Neptune Air director Muhammad Abdul Jalil said for a start, two aircraft would be used for the operation and the number would be increased to seven according to the demand.

"We are looking at the trend, the more of routes we can offer, the higher the demand will be," he said.

Source: Bernama | 12 June 2014